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pacific language courses

Start your learning journey with the only NZQA-registered training organisation that offers free Pacific language classes.

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Starting your learning journey with our Pacific language courses.

Enrol to secure your spot in our free language courses, or Log In to access PolyeLearning via the Student Learning Portal.

How our courses work
All Our Pacific Language Courses are Free!
How our courses work

When you enrol in our courses you’ll receive an email acceptance letter with a link to our online student learning platform PolyeLearning, where you’ll be able to access all your course materials. You’ll also receive a second email inviting you to join the online ZOOM class.

Find out more

All Our Pacific Language Courses are Free!

Great news! Our courses are fully funded by the Government. You just need to turn up and attend your classes. You can receive a completion certificate with a minimum of 80% attendance including lesson 10, but we recommend doing your best to attend all of them.

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The pace was really great for a beginner. I enjoyed being able to say something new at the end of every zoom lesson!

Julienne
Introduction to Gagana Sāmoa (Sāmoan Language), Culture & Identity

I really enjoyed learning more on the language and culture.

Lucianne
Introduction to Fäeag Rotuḁm (Rotuman Language) culture and Identity

The class culture that was created by Ina made a safe environment where everyone was valued. Ina was so approachable and generous with her time and knowledge.

Nicole
Intro to vagahau Niue

I really enjoyed the sharing of our Tutor and elders of the class, their wisdom and knowledge regarding the Sāmoan heritage and Oratory language.

Phillip
Sāmoan Oratory

Learning to speak more fluent Tongan has always been a goal of mine, but I hadn’t really found a way to start that journey until I found this class.

Zaramasina
Lea Faka-Tonga

The interactive nature of the class, being able to share and collaborate in our learning was very important. I enjoyed the relaxed format and Sa’uila being approachable and facilitating all our requests & learning styles.

Junior
Sāmoan Fa’amatai Bi-lingual Training (Introduction level).

Enrol in Free Pacific Language Online Courses

What will you get from our language courses?

Hands up if you've ever experienced or are currently experiencing any of the below:

  1. Been at a Pacific event and someone has told a joke and everyone’s laughing except you.
  2. Were asked to speak at a Pacific event and felt anxious about not knowing what to say.
  3. Worried about doing the wrong thing by not understanding the cultural protocols.
  4. Your parents speak your heritage language at home, but you can only answer in English.
  5. Your partner is Pacific, and you’d like to support your children in learning their heritage language.
  6. You want to learn your heritage language but have no one to support your learning.

Don’t worry, we’ve been there too! We totally get how difficult it is as an adult learner to try and learn a language and culture when you’re completely surrounded by English at school, at work, online and in the media.

Many of our learners are born here in Aotearoa NZ, and have limited access to heritage language speakers, so lack the confidence to speak or even understand. They’re finding that they’re becoming more disconnected, and struggle to participate in family, church and community activities where many Pacific cultural protocols are practiced.

That’s why we’re so excited to bring you a range of free short 10-week courses, which you can join in from the comfort of your home or office. Classes can be accessed online via live ZOOM video calls. Your tutor will cover set topics during the class, then you can access the learning materials covered in your own time, as well as additional support resources which you can find on your Student Learning Portal.

PolyeLearning

Joining our classes is a great way to start your language learning journey. At the Centre for Pacific Languages, we offer a safe learning environment where it’s ok to make mistakes. You’ll build your vocabulary, improve pronunciation and be able to demonstrate a verbal presentation covering information you’ve learnt across the 10-week journey at the end of your course.

The lessons are only 2 hours per week and can go by very quickly while you’re having fun learning and practicing with classmates.

Our short, sharp, practical-based language curriculum will help you start building your confidence so you can have day-to-day conversations across common topics.

Enrol today for our upcoming intakes or contact us for more information.

We hear from Kalani about his journey with CPL, learning 6 languages (Samoan, Fijian, Rotuman, vagahau Niue, reo Maori Kuki 'Airani and Tongan)

“CPL is that learning space that we all need to help maintain and preserve our culture and our identity.”

Long standing gagana Samoa tutor lau tofa ia Tauanu'u Perenise Sitagata Malietoa Tapu shares his thoughts on why we should hold onto language and culture.

“CPL offers the opportunity to go back and visit your language. It’s good to have a space, and a voice, and a place where you go to.”

New Zealand Qualifications Authority

Centre for Pacific Languages Self Review

Executive Summary

 

As part of the Centre for Pacific Languages (CPL’s) commitment as a Private Training Establishment (PTE) , an annual self-review is taken to ensure that our services meet the Code of Pastoral Care requirements as implemented by NZQA in 2021. 

This process ensures all tertiary providers take a thorough and honest look at its current practices and systems to examine if it’s complaint in all areas of the code by gathering evidence.  This is to ensure the health, safety, well-being and the best interests of students, staff and contractors are always maintained, throughout all areas of the PTE. CPL has welcomed this process as it enables us to identify and analyse areas of strength, gaps, or potential risk to be addressed in an action plan.  The table below is just one of the tools from NZQA we have used as part of our self-review process to self-assess compliance of each outcome of the code. 

KEY1

Outcomes of the Code for self-review included the analysis of: 

Outcome 1: A learner wellbeing and safety system 

  • Process 1: Strategic goals and strategic plans 
  • Process 2: Self review of learner wellbeing and safety practices 
  • Process 3: Publication requirements 
  • Process 4: Responsive wellbeing and safety systems 

Outcome 2: Learner voice   

  • Process 1: Learner voice
  • Process 2: Learner complaints 
  • Process 3: Compliance with the Dispute Resolution Scheme

Outcome 3: Safe, inclusive, supportive, and accessible physical and digital learning environments

  • Process 1: Safe and inclusive communities
  • Process 2: Supporting learner participation and engagement
  • Process 3: Physical and digital spaces and facilities 

 Outcome 4: Learners are safe and well 

  • Process 1: Information for learners about assistance to meet their basic needs. 
  • Process 2: Promoting physical and mental health awareness 
  • Process 3: Proactive monitoring and responsive wellbeing and safety practices. 

The gathering and analysis of evidence related to processes, systems and practices enables PTE’s to rate how well they implement the code.  Below is a summary of the rating criteria. 

Early stages of implementation1

For information on CPL’s self-rating of the above outcomes refer to the attestation documents submitted to NZQA for the years 2022 & 2023 on our website.  Also available is CPL’s external evaluation report by Moana Connect. 

As a category 2 provider, CPL also successfully completed its External Evaluation Review (EER) with NZQA in Sep of 2022 with the final report completed in Dec 2022 available on the NZQA website. 

In summary, CPL is confident its robust systems and practices are appropriate for the nature of CPL’s business - free, short online courses of 2-hours face-to-face (predominantly online) teaching per week, over 10 weeks per term.  An action plan for the period of 2023 – 2024 has been created via the self-review process to address any identified gaps. 

With the recent appointment of a new Chair Board and expected plans to soon appoint a new CEO, the Board will update CPL’s strategic plan to further inform and enhance existing practice of the business. 

Ron Viviani 

Interim CEO 

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Student Support team